Energy: Batteries
Published

Thin-film batteries rechargable in just one minute      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers aim to revolutionize rechargeable batteries: Their thin-film batteries are not only safer and longer-lasting than conventional lithium-ion batteries, they are also much more environmentally friendly to manufacture and can be charged in just one minute. For now, the battery is very small, but the founders have big plans for it.

Anthropology: General Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Zoology Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Three-eyed distant relative of insects and crustaceans reveals amazing detail of early animal evolution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists use cutting edge scanning technology to reconstruct 'fossil monster' that lived half a billion years ago. The creature's soft anatomy was well-preserved, allowing it to be imaged almost completely: It fills a gap in our understanding of the evolution of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Scientists invent micrometers-thin battery charged by saline solution that could power smart contact lenses      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene
Published

New study finds ways to suppress lithium plating in automotive batteries for faster charging electric vehicles      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study has found a way to prevent lithium plating in electric vehicle batteries, which could lead to faster charging times.

Energy: Batteries Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Towards better batteries and fuel cells with dispersibility estimation for carbon electrode slurries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Carbon slurries, which consist of a suspension of carbon particles in a solvent, are used to mass-produce battery electrodes. However, there are no adequate methods to evaluate whether the particles are uniformly dispersed in the slurry during the manufacturing process. In a recent study, researchers used an innovative approach, combining viscosity and electrochemical impedance measurements, to accurately assess the dispersibility of slurries, opening doors to enhanced electric vehicles and fuel cell batteries.

Archaeology: General Biology: Zoology Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils
Published

Researchers extract ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick, revealing a time capsule of plant life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, a group of researchers have successfully extracted ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick. The analysis provides a fascinating insight into the diversity of plant species cultivated at that time and place, and could open the way to similar studies on clay material from other sites and time periods.

Energy: Batteries
Published

New platform could boost development of carbon-capturing batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Efficient and cheap batteries that can also capture harmful emissions could be right around the corner, thanks to a new system that speeds up the development of catalysts for lithium-CO2 (Li-CO2) batteries.

Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Did sabertooth tigers purr or roar?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When a sabertooth tiger called out, what noise did it make -- a mighty roar or a throaty purr? A new study examined the data behind the arguments for each vocalization and found that the answer was more nuanced than they thought -- and that it could depend on the shape of a few small bones.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Move over lithium-ion: Zinc-air batteries a cheaper and safer alternative      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Zinc-air batteries have emerged as a better alternative to lithium in a recent study into the advancement of sustainable battery systems.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Iceman Ötzi: Dark skin, bald head, Anatolian ancestry      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has used advanced sequencing technology to analyze Ötzi's genome to obtain a more accurate picture of the Iceman's appearance and genetic origins.

Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

'Resurrecting' the legendary figure behind Count Dracula      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, was a 15th century prince and military leader who was so terrifying, he's thought to have inspired the creation of the literary vampire, Count Dracula. Now, a scientific examination of his letters is giving new insights into his health. Researchers say the results suggest that Vlad probably had skin and respiratory conditions and could have even cried literal tears of blood.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Chloride ions from seawater eyed as possible lithium replacement in batteries of the future      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Sodium, Potassium and zinc have all been promising contenders for lithium's place in rechargeable batteries of the future, but researchers have added an unusual and more abundant competitor to the mix: chloride, the richest negatively charged ions in seawater. Xiaowei Teng, the James H. Manning professor of Chemical Engineering at WPI, has discovered a new redox chemistry empowered by chloride ions for the development of seawater green batteries.

Archaeology: General Ecology: Research Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Fossil feces infested with parasites from over 200 million years ago      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fossilized feces preserve evidence of ancient parasites that infected an aquatic predator over 200 million years ago, according to a new study.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: General
Published

Whale-like filter-feeding discovered in prehistoric marine reptile      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A remarkable new fossil from China reveals for the first time that a group of reptiles were already using whale-like filter feeding 250 million years ago.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Faster thin film devices for energy storage and electronics      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An international research team reported the first realization of single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films having two-dimensional (2D) vertical ionic transport channels, which results in a fast and colossal insulator-metal transition via Li ion intercalation through the 2D channels.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Cracking in lithium-ion batteries speeds up electric vehicle charging      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Rather than being solely detrimental, cracks in the positive electrode of lithium-ion batteries reduce battery charge time, research shows. This runs counter to the view of many electric vehicle manufacturers, who try to minimize cracking because it decreases battery longevity.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

Energy-storing supercapacitor from cement, water, black carbon      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers have created a 'supercapacitor' made of ancient, abundant materials, that can store large amounts of energy. Made of just cement, water, and carbon black (which resembles powdered charcoal), the device could form the basis for inexpensive systems that store intermittently renewable energy, such as solar or wind energy.